Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1887-09-10
RUDE WESTERN JUSTICE
How Judgs Lynch Compelled an ola Vim,
Dlsgorge, ah 10

How Judss Lynch Compelled an old VIM,
Dlssorgs. a@
The following incident of ni..
days is compiled from Herbs., :
Bancroit's new volume. "pon,,
Tribunals" about to be pubhsbsds'
his remarkable series OF histo,I.I',
works relating to the Pacific slora
The warm.hearted early settler.
California were ready to Interfere ~
do substantial justice whenever A.,
saw a wrong done. In 1858 the to-
al Visalia stood somewhat remo,'
from tho more thickly settled ~,
tions OF the state. Population ~.
sparse and the courts were poorly !,
gained, and there were many via
and lawless characters about. Th.,,
was no jail in the entire county
rough shanty in an oak opening en-
stituted the courthouse. The floo, !,
the shanty was the bare earth, and =
the middle rose the stump OF la,a.
oak tree. 10 this stnmp Wa y
tAched a ring. bolt, and the stumn AM
ring-bolt constituted the county ~
son, for the felons were chained AZ
with IA guard over them.
On complaint OF his nephew, WI
liam c, Deputy was arrested by n.
sheriff and chained to the stump. M
was thought by some to be 4 bsS
character, and was accused by IN
nephew OF deirauding him OF lRpds
and moneys to the value OF $4,000
or $4,000. Deputy was an old mar
and because he was a Mormon m
people were all the more ready 10 eali
him villain; no was Stunned aud Al
tested in the community. They saD
that he held in his possession al ~
time OF his arrest property balonglb,
TO his nephew as confidential trust
and this he perslstently refused to n
convey. A lawyer was employed y
compel the man to disgorge the fund.-
but deputy had concealed his track
with such skill AS to defy detection and
defeat legal proceedings. The nephsw
was duped. and the law could moi
help him to OBTAIN restitution.
Nothing would avail but TO eompsl
the man 10 sign over his ill.gotisn
gains. Accordingly he stated az
grievances 70 hts friends and enlisted
tho sympathy OF the community.
They knew of but one way in wheh
10 adjust tho difficulty. They wOuA
form a vigilance committee and con.
pei the old man TO sign the papers.
They BELOVED the nephew TO BE- ia lbs
right, and would help him to tina.
justice which the law could not give.
The cause was made u common ore
by the entire community, and thsgs
WAS not single individual who on.
posed tho plan made known 70 to-
crowd that gathered and drteEminni
upon action. That night they mss
and at ~ O'Clock marched TO the
court house. where they found Dep
uty guarded by two men. They 81,
tered the room meeting little opposs
ton. took Deputy from the bench
where he Vas lying and led him to the
northern section OF the town. lie
was placed beneath trra. from
when a rope was already swinging
The rope was then adjusted
abou. his neck and ho was informed
that his liis would 30 forfeited unless
he complied with their demands and
made over the property This he n.
refused 10 do. Accordingly be was
swung into the air two or three times
and lowered again. until finally hs
proposed 70 do what was required.
provided be- should BE- released from
custody and freed from the charge Of
felony that wAs pending against him
This Was granted. and then be mads
full confession. promised restitution
aud gave account Of what he hold.
He was then taken back TO tho room
and chained again TO await the ap
pcaTarcs Of the lawyers ia tho morn.
ing, To prevent further violence tho
sheriff plAcJd u strong guard about
the primitive jail Uu ths iolloWingday
anotAry WAS summoned, who drew MP
deed and asked Deputy II no would
sign u paper chcgrinily and willingly,
Several persons witnessed the pro.
ccedines, and among them was Law.
yer who talked with Deputy in
friendly way and advised him TO sign
The papers This Deputy mt length
DID, and 1t WAS attestcd by tho Law
yer The acknowledgment was then
taken by the notary and his scal A.
hSed. Not the slightest coercion Was
used, 40 It was claimed, for the old
man readily asseutsd TO whateyw
was required. Deputy was then re-
leased and all charges against him
withdrawn. He vent Immediately to
another county, and there appealed
TO the courts, endeavoring TO be rein
stated IN possession, but was unsue.
ecssiul In his application.